Large boa constrictor found in Ocala National Forest

This is an undated handout photo of Brandon Rowe with boa constrictor found in Salt Springs, FL. (submitted photo)

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Monday, November 12, 2012 at 6:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 12, 2012 at 6:24 p.m.

When Patti Thayer saw the 7-foot boa constrictor her friends caught in the Ocala National Forest on Sunday, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“They wrapped it in a shirt and put it in a bag. You could hardly lift that bag it was so heavy,” she said.

Edward Winegard, who helped corral the snake, said it was one of the only times he’s ever felt unnerved in the forest.

“It worried me ... I’ve been in the woods all my life and I ain’t never seen nothing like that,” he said. “We figured they may have migrated from Miami.”

South Florida has experienced a growing problem with pythons and boa constrictors establishing wild breeding colonies in the Everglades. But Robert Robins of the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville said the forest snake was most likely a local pet released into the area.

Still, that is how the problem started in South Florida.

Because Marion County and the Ocala National Forest are subject to deep cold snaps, it would be difficult for released snakes to establish a significant foothold, but not impossible, Robins said.

“I wouldn’t go out on a limb and say they couldn’t become established,” he said. “Boa constrictors have a large range that extends from Central America to Argentina. Some are more cold tolerant than others.”

Boa constrictors can be up to 8-feet long and weigh more than 60 pounds. That’s much smaller than a Burmese python, specimens of which have reached up to 19 feet long.

Still, a snake the size of the one caught Sunday could eat small house pets or native species of small animals.

“These are general predators, they are very adaptive,” Robins said.

The boa, which was caught in the area between Scramble Town and Salt Springs off County Road 314, was taken by a third man who was familiar with snakes.

Thayer and Winegard said they called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and waited for four hours, but an officer never showed up.

The FWC was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day and no one could be reached for comment.

Robins suggests that any snake owner who does not want their pet anymore should return it to where it was purchased.

<p>When Patti Thayer saw the 7-foot boa constrictor her friends caught in the Ocala National Forest on Sunday, she couldn't believe her eyes.</p><p>“They wrapped it in a shirt and put it in a bag. You could hardly lift that bag it was so heavy,” she said.</p><p>Edward Winegard, who helped corral the snake, said it was one of the only times he's ever felt unnerved in the forest.</p><p>“It worried me ... I've been in the woods all my life and I ain't never seen nothing like that,” he said. “We figured they may have migrated from Miami.”</p><p>South Florida has experienced a growing problem with pythons and boa constrictors establishing wild breeding colonies in the Everglades. But Robert Robins of the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville said the forest snake was most likely a local pet released into the area.</p><p>Still, that is how the problem started in South Florida.</p><p>Because Marion County and the Ocala National Forest are subject to deep cold snaps, it would be difficult for released snakes to establish a significant foothold, but not impossible, Robins said.</p><p>“I wouldn't go out on a limb and say they couldn't become established,” he said. “Boa constrictors have a large range that extends from Central America to Argentina. Some are more cold tolerant than others.”</p><p>Boa constrictors can be up to 8-feet long and weigh more than 60 pounds. That's much smaller than a Burmese python, specimens of which have reached up to 19 feet long.</p><p>Still, a snake the size of the one caught Sunday could eat small house pets or native species of small animals.</p><p>“These are general predators, they are very adaptive,” Robins said.</p><p>The boa, which was caught in the area between Scramble Town and Salt Springs off County Road 314, was taken by a third man who was familiar with snakes.</p><p>Thayer and Winegard said they called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and waited for four hours, but an officer never showed up.</p><p>The FWC was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day and no one could be reached for comment.</p><p>Robins suggests that any snake owner who does not want their pet anymore should return it to where it was purchased.</p>